Let’s quickly tick off the similarities between Venice and Georgetown.

One has canals. The other has... a canal.

And that’s about it.

Well, at least until this place opens: Rialto, two levels of Venetian-inspired grandeur, opening tomorrow night on M Street and taking reservations now.

This is where the Guards once stood, but you’d never recognize it. Walk in, and right away there’s a pizza oven, a cheese counter and trays of antipasti, like marinated artichokes and seafood salad. (All of which they serve at the big, curved bar until 1am.)

But for now, keep going. You’ll see a big hearth, and a glass-ceilinged dining room in the back with a map of Venice and a wall of river rocks. And then there’s the downstairs. Let’s just say it’s pretty damn sexy. Think red-paisley walls, dark little chandeliered nooks (for serious dates) and a communal table with shiny red chairs (for Caligulan feasts).

Wherever you decamp, start out with a round of prosecco on tap, maybe some Tuscan sangria. Then on to small, shareable plates, like six preparations of mozzarella, five kinds of polenta, cuttlefish risotto and housemade ravioli.

Or a pound-and-a-half, bone-in Delmonico steak.

You should probably share that, too.